Feds Seeking Death Penalty for Seven Mile Bloods street gang Member

DETROIT, MI – On Monday January 8th, 2018, in Federal Court, federal prosecutors filed a ‘Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty’ against alleged east side Seven Mile Bloods street gang member Billy Arnold.

Seeking the death penalty in any case has been rare for federal prosecutors. The last time that anyone was convicted and received a federal death penalty in Michigan was from a murder case in 1997.

Marvin Gabrion was convicted of killing Rachel Timmerman in the Manistee National Forest which is federal land. Michigan law does not allow the death penalty, Gabrion was tried and convicted under federal law. A federal jury in 2002 sentenced him to death.

Billy Arnold, a/k/a “B-Man,” “Berinzo,” “Killa,” 31-years-old, of Detroit, was charged in March of 2016 with RICO conspiracy and multiple counts of murder in aid of racketeering; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; use of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence resulting in death; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and felon in possession of a firearm.

Federal court documents filed Monday by U.S. Attorney Matther Schneider show that the feds are seeking a death sentence for the 31-year-old Detroit man.

According to the indictment of March 2106, a total of 12 members of Seven Mile Bloods street gang were charged at that time. Authorities state that the gang operates on the east side of Detroit, between Gratiot Avenue and Kelly Road and between Seven and Eight Mile Roads. Seven Mile Bloods or “SMB” members have claimed this area as their territory and refer to it as the “Red Zone.” The area is in zip code 48205, which SMB members refer to as “4-8-2-0-Die” in some of their rap lyrics.

The indictment alleges an ongoing gang war between the Seven Mile Bloods and an alliance of other gangs operating on Detroit’s east side stemming from a murder that occurred in July 2014. During the 18 months prior to March of 2016, these rival gangs had been violently attacking one another and had posted respective “hit lists” on social media. The shooting war led to increased homicides and non-fatal shootings on Detroit’s east side.

Arnold is not the only one the gang facing charges where the death penalty may be applied, officials said Monday.

Others charged are as follows:

• Steven Arthur, Jr., a/k/a “Steve-O,” 26, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and felon in possession of a firearm; • Eugene Fisher, a/k/a “Fist,” 35, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; use of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and felon in possession of a firearm;

• Corey Bailey, a/k/a “Sonny,” “Cocaine Sonny,” 28, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; murder in aid of racketeering; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; use of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Quincy Graham, a/k/a “Dub,” “Q,” 32, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and felon in possession of a firearm;

• Robert Brown II, a/k/a “R.O.,” 33, of Warren, Michigan, with RICO conspiracy and possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Jerome Gooch, a/k/a “Rome,” “Dada,” 30, of Detroit, Michigan and Charleston with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Michael Rogers, a/k/a “Smoke,” “Ace,” 33, of Eastpointe, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Derrick Kennedy, a/k/a “Dip,” 29, of Warren, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Devon Patterson, a/k/a “Duck,” “Sosa,” 30, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Christopher Owens, a/k/a “Baby O,” “Cee,” 29, of Charleston, West Virginia, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Jeffery Adams, a/k/a “Brick,” “Product,” 26, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Arlandis Shy, a/k/a “Grymee,” “VIL,” 26, of Clinton Township with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Anthony Lovejoy, a/k/a “PT,” 33, of Charleston, West Virginia and Buckeye, Arizona, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and

• Diondre Fitzpatrick, a/k/a “D-Nice,” 26, of Harper Woods, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence.